For now, UFC 163's Amanda Nunes chooses career over family

UFC bantamweight Amanda Nunes is putting off raising a family while her fighting career flourishes.

“I wouldn’t consider getting married now,” she told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “I’m only concentrating on my career. Now is the time in my life I have to dedicate myself to MMA. The window of opportunity is short.”

Indeed, the 25-year-old Brazilian has been fighting for just four years, and already she’s established herself as a dangerous opponent for anyone in the 135-pound division. Prior to joining the now-defunct Strikeforce promotion, she reeled off six consecutive wins via knockout.

Her fierce style instantly won her notice in the gym, where she earned the nickname “Lioness.”

Now, Nunes (7-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) wants to use her fists to make an impression in the UFC. She makes her promotional debut on Saturday at UFC 163, where she meets Sheila Gaff (10-5-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) on the event’s FX-televised preliminary card at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. The night’s main card airs on pay-per-view.

Gaff makes her second UFC appearance after a TKO loss to Sara McMann at UFC 159.

With the women’s bantamweight division still a work in progress, either Nunes or Gaff could easily work her way to a title shot in a few fights, which is why Nunes trains with such urgency.

“I have to take advantage now,” she said. “It’s an ungrateful sport. At any moment an injury could keep us from fighting. Or one could suffer a knockout. There are many things that I would rather not say or think about.”

One might be her career setbacks. Nunes was, in fact, stopped by top-tier bantamweight Alexis Davis in her second Strikeforce bout. She subsequently rebounded under the Invicta FC banner with a first-round submission win, but then stumbled in her most recent appearance against Sarah D’alelio.

Avoiding further losses keeps her focused on career rather home life.

“Younger people are always joining the ranks,” Nunes said. “Those are all factors (in me choosing fighting over family).”

Of course, there are moments when Nunes does let her hair down. She currently lives in Miami, where there’s plenty of distractions when she’s not training.

“All I do is train and fight,” she said. But then she quickly added: “Well, I do enjoy going to the beach and shopping too.”

But capturing the women’s bantamweight title remains her goal.

“The 135 belt is my focus,” she said. “It’s what I want. I hope I get the chance eventually.”